Glossary III:

Waif (wey-if): Terran/ Xeufian

lost; wayward; a person, usually a child, without home or family

Terran (tear-in): Terran

1. another name for "human", steaming from the word "Terra", another name for Earth; 2. used to describe anything indigenous to the third planet from the sun in the Sol system; 3. used to describe a tyrannical empire in an alternate universe (the "Mirror Universe", believed to be exclusively known to Starfleet) categorized by rampant xenophobia, human species supremacy, and extreme violence

Piezite (pie-zite): Piezite

1. a civilization situated on the edge of the Alpha and Gamma Quadrants, well-known for their xenophobia. Despite this, they operate an extensive trade network well into both quadrants, interacting with people of all kinds firmly for their personal benefit. 2. The Federation first encountered the Piezites in the form of a slave ship, collecting Ferengi creditors. Several shrewd Ferengi had sold the debts to Piezite traders in their area and the Piezites, in turn, collected the debtors as indentured servants, set to work off their debts on whatever colony the Piezites needed them on. They have recently begun expanding into the Federation black market. 3. They brand their indentured servants and slaves with their planetary emblem: two, four-winged Piezite birds of prey meant to serve as their two homeworlds and four stars meant to represent the four governors of the empire.

Kinji (kin-gee): Ankarian

One of two ancient clans that inhabit the planet of Shankar, predominately the western continents

Fygo (fi-go): Ankarian

One of two ancient clans that inhabit the planet of Shankar, predominately the eastern continents

Ankon (ann-con): Ankarian

The capital city of Fygo and the subject of an attack by the United Kinji Army which involved the destruction of three Federation starships

United Kinji Army (U.K.A.): Kinji

A radical militant force focused on re-eradicating the theta-nu gene from the planet of Shankar; a xenophobic militant organization based on an ancient Ankarian cult that originally eradicated the theta-nu gene from Shankar

Chapter Three

"Complicating Circumstances"

Day 3 Stranded in the Unmapped Gamma Quadrant

Federation Starship

NCC-1701-D

U.S.S. Enterprise

Galaxy Class

Two boys.

Two girls.

Two blondes.

Two brunettes.

The oldest were the boys, both probably nineteen or so. The brunet, with four broken ribs and a broken clavicle, had been the pilot. The blond was found on the floor with two broken fingers and a head injury that had left the entire right side of his face covered with blood.

Then came the blonde girl, who was about sixteen. It was her safety belts that Crusher had seen the dog gnaw at. She had a broken ankle and a cut on the inside of her left forearm.

Finally, the youngest, the brunette girl, was a fourteen-year-old empath with burns across her upper body and two broken ribs. Crusher also suspected that she'd been blinded by the backdraft that occurred when the pod doors opened.

Unfortunately for the doctor, that was where the distinctions ended.

Each of them had been cut up by debris in the initial crash and suffered smoke inhalation, but they were also very bruised as if they'd been fighting before the crash. Beyond that, all four children were also vitamin deficient and dehydrated. Their blood provided evidence of Betazoid heritage, their bones that of hard labor and abuse going back years. Once they were clean and all of their most serious injuries resolved, Crusher recognized some of their scars as lashes, especially on the boys, and it made her stomach turn. Someone could easily take their lean muscle and olive complexions as an indication of good health, but that wasn't necessarily the case here.

And there was still more that the doctor could read from their bodies than what her medical scans had told her.

On the inside of their left arms, each had a pair of tattoos, both of which were sickeningly familiar. No one in medbay had to be an empath to know the fury Counselor Troi felt when she saw them.

The first tattoo, on the inside of the waifs' left wrists, was Terran in origin but had been adopted by an Ankarian clan due to the influence of one of its most prominent members: a human pseudo-exobiologist who preached fear of telepaths and empaths. The tattoo was made up of two symbols: a Greek beta within the diamond of an othila rune, permanently marking the kids as Betazoid. Beneath the tattoo was a separate Ankarian number for each child: one-hundred-and-seventeen, one-hundred-and-forty-five, one-hundred-and-forty-six, and one-hundred-and-forty-seven.

The second tattoo, above the inside of their elbows at the lower end of their biceps, was more elaborate and indicative of the Piezite people, or more specifically their slave trade. Two, four-winged creatures, a blue one overlying a wing of a red one, surrounded by one star above the creatures, one star to the right of a red wing, and two to the left of a blue wing. The symbol was bordered by the three Piezite runes which described each recipient according to when they'd been branded: "child", gender, "alien".

Picard's heart had dropped into the floor and his insides turned hollow as Dr. Crusher described the condition of her new patients. His throat went dry, prompting him to swallow, but everything stuck, much like the knowledge of everything these young ones had endured. Every time he started to say something, the words felt dismally inadequate whether they formed a question or statement.

Riker's cheek twitched with barely contained anger, his teeth clenched with such ferocity, Crusher was concerned he was going to bite through his mandible. "Could they be some of the kids who were kidnapped during the Siege of Ankon?" He asked, quietly, deeply, darkly, every word dripping with disdain.

"I'd say it's more than likely," Crusher answered, standing between the two girls. Though the evidence she'd found still sat heavily on her chest, she was past the initial shock. She petted the black dog (a labrador-like creature) that Worf had thoughtfully laid at the end of the brunette's bed, comforting it as much as herself.

Picard turned slightly. "I thought all those children were found and returned, once the U.K.A. fell?"

"Not all," Troi snapped, standing defensively at the foot of the blond boy's bed. "Almost a hundred were unaccounted for by the time the war ended. Ankarian officials believed that they were smuggled off-planet before Federation and Fygozian forces reached the last Kinji stronghold. It's been speculated that this was done so the U.K.A. could continue their experiments, but now it seems they might've been sold to fund the last of their efforts."

Riker stretched his neck and latched his hands behind his back, trying to manage his emotions. "We should raise to yellow alert, Captain. The Piezites aren't known for just letting their…property walk away."

Picard ran his hand over his head, took a deep breath, and then crossed his arms over his chest. "Not just yet. If we do come across a recovery cruiser, I don't want them to suspect that we have the children. We'll be more likely to convince them that we're just passing through. Hopefully...at the very least, finding these children has helped us pinpoint where we are."

"The edge of the Gamma Quadrant,"

Picard nodded. "How long before they wake up, Doctor?"

"A few hours, maybe. They've undergone some minor surgeries -"

"You consider ocular replacements minor surgery?" Riker challenged.

"Compared to spinal replacement surgery, yes. It took a quarter of the time and was considerably less complicated given that it was only her corneas that were scorched and not her optical nerves, most likely from the backdraft that occurred when they opened the pod doors trying to escape."

"Very well. Please let me know when they wake up. I'll want to talk to them."

"Of course,"

Carmen didn't know exactly who's dreams she was seeing, but she knew they weren't hers. She hadn't dreamed for some time and if she did, they were usually a concoction of memories and sounds. There was the occasion, though, when she didn't sleep well, that she would pick up on her siblings' dreams and entertain herself with their unconscious illusions.

But these dreams weren't funny. In fact, they were quite boring. All there was were bright lights, computer panels, and the occasional person walking around in blue. It looked very...sleek. Organized. Electrical.

Carmen sighed; perhaps these were Kestra's dreams. She did occasional fantasize about the higher-order technology she knew was out in the galaxy, beyond the dingey little Oberia System they were stuck in. If that was the case, then the gentle hum of the ship should put her back to sleep…

The ship.

Mutiny! Mutiny aboard!

I've been locked out of the ship's computer.

No, the escape pod.

Here! Inside!

What's happening?

The engines!

PREPARE FOR IMPACT!

Carmen shot up, sharp realization paired with the memory of the mutiny and crash pulsing through her. When the blood rushed from her head, she swayed and groaned, feeling her stomach lurch from one part of her body to another.

"Hay, hay, take it easy. Take it easy. You're okay. You're safe now." A soft but firm voice said. Someone took Carmen's shoulders, squeezing them reassuringly. Except when Carmen blinked, she was still in Kestra's dream. It was spotty, but she was sure there was red hair, blue clothes, and milky-white skin. "Crusher to Troi: please report to sickbay. One of the survivors is awake."

The girl shook her head. "I don't- I don't-" Her heart began to race and she couldn't for the life of her catch her breath.

She was in a hospital.

A hospital.

She was in a hospital and she could see and something was covering her eyes -

"It's all right. Here, we can take these off now."

A hand reached forward and Carmen froze with fear. It was just a hand, but it had just been a hand before. Sometimes the hands had had syringes with long needles, and -

She felt something sticky pull away from her face. When she blinked again, the spots were gone and the voice was paired with a tender smile. "There. Relax. Shh," Something rubbed up and down Carmen's arm gently, drawing a few tears from the corner of her eyes. "Do you have any pain or tenderness?"

Carmen couldn't move, her insides solidifying with too many emotions to count or identify. "Is- Is this a dream?"

The smile- The woman softened warmly. "No. I'm Dr. Crusher. You're aboard the Federation starship Enterprise. We found you in a crashed escape pod."

"F-Found u-us?" Carmen stumbled over her words as the world continued to spin. Her heart wasn't pounding nearly as badly. She wasn't in Shankar, she didn't need to be afraid, but…

Red - her hair.

Her uniform and coat - blue.

White - the walls behind her.

The edges of some paneling and the medallion on her chest were gold.

Or was the paneling yellow?

Black - there were panels and countertops that were pitch black, things beneath their surface moving.

Gray - the light. Not harsh, but not dark either. Just bright enough to see everything and not cast too many shadows.

Green was the color of the liquid in a giant container on the other side of the room.

Silver - everything had, to some degree, silver on it and it made the room sparkle brighter, cleaner, than anything Carmen could've imagined.

She could see. After so many years.

One, two, three, four people, standing and moving, that she could see and three more that she could sense in another room. None of whom she recognized, but when she turned her head to the left, she found the familiar psyches of her brothers and sister. They looked horrible, worn and beaten, though relatively undamaged, yet so small and lifeless - like props in a production - laying out in stark white pajamas on medical beds.

They were asleep, content in oblivion.

Carmen's heart rate began to steady.

"Can you tell me your name?"

It took a moment for the girl to answer. She was busy taking in every detail about her siblings now that she could. She still felt sick, though the nausea was coming under control with several long, deep breaths that continued the drove of tears dripping from her eyes to her cheek and chin. "C-Carmen," She croaked. Something tickled the back of her mind. She turned slowly back to Dr. Crusher to avoid getting dizzy. "What- What is the Federation doing all the way out here?"

Crusher offered a kindly, understanding expression. "That's kind of our job,"

Carmen felt nothing other than genuine sincerity from the doctor, but that didn't settle her guard at all. If anything, her overwhelming awe was gradually being dominated by suspicion. "This is medbay?"

"Yes. I'm the chief medical officer."

The poor girl dropped her head to clear the tears. When she looked up, she could still see. "Were you," She licked her lips. "Were you the one who operated on my eyes?"

Crusher nodded. "You had some corneal scorching caused by the heat of the fires during the crash. We replaced the damaged corneas with new ones."

Carmen's hands flew up to her temples where she felt the thin scarring that had been there for as long as she could remember. "A transplant? What if my body rejects it?"

"It won't. There's a new technique called gentronic replication. We take your DNA and replicate whatever piece of you that needs to be replaced."

The doctor saw her patient relax a little as she breathed, "Amazing,"

"Yes. But you didn't answer my initial question: Do you feel any pain and tenderness?"

"No, no," Carmen blinked just to double-check and did a quick assessment of her body. "I'm just...a bit overwhelmed, I guess... It wasn't the fires that blinded me. I've...I haven't been able to see...since I was five." She inadvertently pulled her left arm into her chest, hiding the identification tattoos.

An intense wave of anger occurred somewhere in sickbay, catching Carmen off guard so much she thought it was coming from herself for a moment. Except Carmen had never personally felt such animosity, not even for the people who'd hurt her all those years ago.

"Were they trying to change your eye color?"

Both Crusher and Carmen looked over to Counselor Troi, standing several feet back, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. The girl was surprised to realize that the anger she'd sensed was coming from someone so regal looking, though she couldn't deny the stern, unyielding quality the woman currently wore. "Yes, ma'am."

"Carmen, this is Counselor Troi," Crusher introduced. "She's going to help me make sure you're all right."

"Hello, Carmen. It's very nice to meet you."

The girl was equally surprised to see that someone so stern could smile so softly. It stirred feelings of comfort and familiarity that helped relax the scrunch between her eyebrows. "You're...Betazoid. We've…" She glanced out of the corner of her eye at her siblings. "We've never met other Betazoids."

"Well, you've met one now. We also have a Klingon, a Bajoran, and an android aboard the Enterprise, just for starters." Troi's smile grew brighter as she sensed Carmen's wonder growing.

Carmen shook her head. It was a hurricane of emotions that tumbled through her chest: reservation, curiosity, worry, bewilderment, apprehension, excitement, relief, amazement, discomfort, uneasiness, safety, warmth, hesitation. It was all too much - too shocking - and it continued to pour out of Carmen as tears. She couldn't help it. Everything…It was all…

"It's all right, darling," Counselor Troi said just as softy as Dr. Crusher had, stepping up diligently to take Carmen's hands in hers, not only sensing the turmoil but seeing the girl's outward distress. "Everything's going to be all right now. We'll take care of you."

Carmen scoffed, but it came out as a choke. Those words made her draw away. Those words were all she needed to push her flurry of feelings down. "The last time someone said that, Counselor...let's just say things didn't go so well."

"And they're not likely to now."

Carmen jumped at the unexpected sound of her brother's voice from behind her. She'd been so consumed with her own feelings and the presence of the two officers that she hadn't even noticed Thad emerge from unconsciousness and orient himself. They all turned to face him, the still sleeping Kestra between them all, as he swept off his cot and grimaced at the tightness in his chest from where Dr. Crusher had repaired his broken ribs and clavicle. Cradling his right arm for comfort, his blue eyes thoroughly assessed the two new women he towered over, judging them based on his own experience and expertise.

Thad did not, however, give his sister even a glance. As it was, he knew he didn't have to be concerned with her. She could tell him telepathically if something was wrong.

"I should like to speak with your captain," He said tightly, uncomfortable, directing the statement towards the doctor. "As soon as he's available."

Crusher stepped up meticulously, not wanting to startle Thad or cause him distress as she had Carmen. "I think it'd be better if we wait until you're a bit more oriented. The two of you just woke up from a crash. You need time to recover."

"We've marched on after a lot more than a little crash, Dr. Crusher. And I feel it's extremely important that we speak to your captain immediately. For your sake, as well as ours."

"If this is about the Piezites-" Troi began.

Thad's eyes flashed hotly, startling the two seasoned officers with his intensity. It was a surprise to see it in someone so young. "We are freemen, Counselor." He said definitely. He clenched his teeth for a moment and lowered his head, collecting himself. "I have no more fear of the Piezites than I have of you or your Federation. But it'd be best that we part ways as soon as possible." He added, a bit softer, almost apologetic.

Thad? Carmen questioned concernedly. Her brother's anger and resentment were not new to her by any means. It had been mounting since Lee's death and a part of her had begun to believe that his anger was the only thing that still drove him - but that was an issue for another time.

Here, in the medical bay, he wasn't just reserved, but distant. He was locking himself away from Carmen, not allowing her to see or hear any of his thoughts. Only his pain. The deep, chasming pain that lay in the depths of all the children's hearts.

But why?

Thad - don't piss them off. They can take us home.

They can't take us home. Besides, we don't need them.

We lost our ship. Yes, we do.

Troi and Crusher exchanged glances, having their own silent conversation. Nonetheless, Troi tapped her medallion. "Troi to Captain Picard,"

"Go ahead, Counselor,"

"Two of the children are awake, Captain. They would like to speak with you at your earliest convenience."

"Commander Riker and I will be there shortly."

Thad's pain hardened and despite how good he thought he was at concealing his feelings, it didn't go unnoticed.

The captain's definition of "shortly" was by no means everyone else's.

By the time Picard and Riker arrived in medbay, the other two children had woken as well, to be also greeted and tended to by Troi and Crusher.

All underneath Thad's watchful eye.

Once they'd all orientated themselves, for the most part, the four gathered closely together and spoke silently, despite Crusher's insistence that they should all keep still and exert as little energy as possible to avoid straining themselves.

They politely thanked her for her advice and bluntly ignored it.

"They're teenagers, so they won't listen to me. But they're teenagers, so they really should listen to me." Beverley insisted quietly (mostly to herself) as she and Troi retreated to the edge of the room to allow the group their privacy.

"Don't take it personally, Beverley. They've only had themselves to rely on for years. You don't think a Piezite took care of their wounds?" Troi gently countered. "The boy's probably right - they've had to walk on from a lot more than just a crash, in a much worse condition than you've left them in."

She glanced at Thad, hunched close to his siblings as they surrounded Kestra's bed. It was hard not to be concerned for any of them, but that boy in particular had so much emotion pent up inside that an explosion was inevitable. He was the oldest of them (though he and Simon couldn't have been very far apart) and was made of what burdens he'd taken on. The others were open, and though worried, much more willing to interact with the Enterprise than Thad. He was trying to close himself off from everything so significantly, it was already draining him of what little energy he had.

"Just because they've never had someone take care of them doesn't mean they should go on not letting others try. They're just kids, Deanna. Don't tell me you don't want to hold them and tell them everything will be all right?"

Troi sighed. "Of course I do. But that's not going to happen, and we can't expect them to let their guards down after only a few minutes with us. They've spent the majority of their lives shutting everyone out. Give it time. They'll let you help them."

"Not if that boy has anything to say about it."

It was a few minutes after that that Riker and Picard finally made their way into medbay, one behind the other, and fell into line beside Crusher and Troi. "Sorry for the delay. Data and Geordi had some updates." Riker explained.

"Anything good?" Crusher questioned.

Picard sighed. "Turbolift sixteen is fixed, the remains of the escape pod can help with our hull damage, and though a few things need to be fixed, there is no permanent damage to the warp core, so as soon as the decontamination process can be initiated, we'll have the capability to start towards Alpha Quadrant."

"Except the decontamination process can't begin until the secondary computer systems are restored." Crusher also sighed, her frustration mounting.

"I see they're all awake now. Have they said anything?" Picard asked.

"Not since we called you. The boy on the right, there," Troi gestured to Thad, who was sitting with Kestra on her cot while Carmen and Simon stood. "Won't let any of them talk to us until he's spoken with you, Captain."

Picard stiffened. He'd told Crusher and Troi that he'd want to speak with the waifs once they'd woken up, but the prospect of actually doing so was still no easier than it'd be in any other situation with children. "Did he say what about?"

"No,"

Picard cleared his throat. "Well, then,"

He slowly approached the children, allowing them time to notice him coming and complete their silent conversation. His officers followed a few feet behind, setting themselves around him to provide support for both commander and passenger. The captain gave the waifs a good looking over, stifling the same kind of surprise he'd felt when originally seeing them, before saying, "I'm Captain Jean-Luc Picard. I gather you want to speak with me. I'm also very interested to speak with all of you."

Thad slipped off the cot and stepped forward respectfully, offering his hand to the captain with yet another grimace. "Firstly, thank you for pulling me and my brother and sisters from the wreckage of our pod. There's no telling who, if anyone, would've found us if you hadn't. I'm Thaddeus Reyga. These are my sisters, Kestra and Carmen, and my brother, Simon. We're very thankful for every effort you and your crew have made to aid us and we are," The young man took a deep breath. Troi sensed nothing but genuine respect and sincerity from the boy as he spoke, but he was also making a very strong effort to not look past Picard, tension continuing to rise within him. "Extremely thankful for what Dr. Crusher has done for Carmen's sight."

He paused a moment, rearranging his emotions. The bitterness he'd woken up with had been damped by a conversation with his siblings, who'd also worked as his council and helped him craft what it was that he should say to Picard. They were all more than grateful; it just so happened that they were just more used to being distrustful and approaching situations distantly. Despite their raging hormones.

"However, I must ask… Are you aware that your ship has fallen through a black hole?"

Riker glanced at Picard while Crusher and Troi looked to Riker. Only hours ago, Data had speculated that they'd been blindsided by a wormhole - how could Thad have come to a similar conclusion?

As far as Crusher and Troi were concerned, a wormhole and a black hole were very much alike except that they each conducted very different types of travel: highway-like travel versus space-time kind of travel, but it didn't take an engineer to comprehend the significant difference between those. Was Thad just using the wrong terminology or had Data been wrong?

Everyone kept their poker faces on, though, and none better than Picard. He considered the young man. Even without Counselor Troi's input, Picard was a good judge of character. Thad was lean, tall (taller than Picard), and stood confidently, if stiffly, with his broad shoulders pushed back. His hooded blue eyes and wide lips hid nothing from the captain - rather, they encouraged Picard to evaluate the young man. To find him cooperative and truthful. "What makes you think that the Enterprise has fallen through a black hole?"

The corner of Thad's lips lifted in a sympathetic, understanding smile. "Because the last time any of us," He gestured to his siblings, "were in Federation space, two of the three officers behind you died. And they obviously aren't dead. Not to mention much younger than they should be if they were from this time, as Kestra informs me that a black hole is the only explanation for people crossing into alternate chronologies."

"Dr. Crusher, I think you should see this," A nurse rushed up to Crusher and handed her a tablet padd. She explained quietly, "I couldn't find their names in any of the Ankarian records we have onboard, but the medical computer generated a genetic match. I ran it twice to double-check."

Troi felt Crusher fill with astonishment. Something tickled the back of her mind and she turned to the waifs with a new lens, beginning to notice things that she'd otherwise overlooked about them.

Ignoring the exchange behind him, Picard continued. "When was the last time you were in Federation space?"

"Almost ten years ago. We were at a port above the planet of Shankar when there was an attack on the capital city. The four of us were planetside and were taken prisoner before being sold to the Piezites."

"The Siege of Ankon," Picard said.

Thad's face visibly fell. "I'm sorry to hear that your time also suffered such an attack. A lot of people were taken. Even more, killed."

"You're saying that two of my officers were killed in the Siege of Ankon?"

"Yes, Captain. In our siege."

Picard scowled and shifted. "If you were taken prisoner by the Kinji, how could you possibly know that they died? Did you see them killed?"

Thad didn't blink. "Because they told me. The Kinji told me that they'd been shot out of the sky. That my parents were dead." He finally forced himself to look over Picard's shoulder to the officers and the nurse. "That is what your tests say, isn't it, Dr. Crusher? That Kestra, Carmen, and I are the children of a William Riker and a Deanna Troi?"

The room, including everyone's hearts, stilled.

Picard, Riker, and Troi's blood ran cold at the statement. They had to admit that everyone who'd glanced at the children had seen something familiar in their faces. That Thad's thick brown hair, jaw, and sharp blue eyes bore an unmistakable likeness to the Enterprise's first officer. That the two girls both shared the same cheekbones, mouth, and nose as the diplomatic officer and her ambassador mother. It was all just enough to make it clear that they were all related, and yet still just enough to leave room for question.

Troi felt Riker look at her, but she was stuck looking at the children, her heart lodged in her throat. Her eyes caught those of the blonde Kestra's, but the girl dropped her head, anguished.

This is what had embittered Thad.

Picard turned on his heel towards Crusher.

She glanced at her friends and then turned to her captain. "Their names...aren't among the Federation children lost during the Siege of Ankon, but the computer...has identified a genetic relationship between their DNA and our samples of Will and Deanna's. They are...who he says they are, Jean-Luc."

Thad licked his lips and lowered his head.

"You'll probably find my name, Doctor." Simon stepped up, that chasm of pain Carmen had identified trembling within him. He'd always known his parents were dead, too - he had seen them killed - and yet it is quite another thing to admit that your parents were killed in two different versions of events. Still, if it meant that the Enterprise believed their story - that, maybe, they could finally go home - he would speak. "Simon Norvi."

Crusher typed his name into the records. "A Simon Norvi was reported missing after the Siege...and put into the guardianship of his grandparents on Betazed nine months later."

"And yet here I stand," He offered less than enthusiastically, letting his hands rise with his words and fall back to his sides with his heart.

Thad looked over his shoulder at Simon, feeling the same kind of pain, though he felt it compounded tenfold by the familiar faces of his long-lost loved ones. "Given that your ship is from another time and place, that you cannot...return us to Federation space, to Betazed, I must ask that you permit us to disembark, Captain Picard. We are, in a sense...going in different directions."

Thus far, this wasn't the strangest mission the Enterprise had been on. In retrospect, this was probably the least problematic situation they'd ever been in, Riker considered.

There were only two things they had to worry about: the ship not working and a different version of himself's children.

Will would be lying if he said he'd never thought about what it would be like to have kids. Especially when he'd been with Deanna. Both young and spirited, it'd been hard not to imagine what their future would look like. What it would've looked like had he not put his career before his love for her -

And now he knew.

It would've looked like the kids in the medbay.

The Enterprise had responded to the distress calls from Shankar on the day of the Siege. They'd been heading into the outer quadrant on a charting assignment when Worf intercepted the messages:

"U.S.S. Crazy Horse to any ship -WE ARE UNDER ATTACK! I repeat WE ARE UNDER ATTACK! Our weapons and engines are DISABLED! We need help! WE NEED HELP!"

"Jersey's gone! Jersey's gone!"

"Cruisers off the port bow!"

"It's the Kinji!"

"There's no Fygozian ships!"

"To any Federation ship, this is the Aries - Starport Jersey and the Dunham are gone. The U.K.A. disabled our engines and has demanded our surrender as enemies of the Kinji State. We are un- We are under heavy fire! We've managed to regain our weapons, but we're outnumbered… Please be advised, there are Federation citizens planetside. We'll do what we can. Just save them."

There'd been nothing but debris in Shankarian space when the Enterprise and U.S.S. Zanzibar finally arrived. The debris of three Federation ships and a Federation starport. The smoke from Ankon could be seen rising into the heavens, spreading across a continent and ocean with the curve of the planet's atmosphere. The U.K.A. cruisers that had destroyed the other ships put up a pathetic fight against Enterprise and Zanzibar before retreating. Whatever they'd used against the dead couldn't be used against them.

Ankon was almost nothing but embers by the time Riker and his rescue party had beamed down. Corpses littered the city in mass amounts, some scorched, some floating in the river, and some that looked like they were sleeping beneath the debris that had crushed them.

It was two days before anyone realized there were no children among the dead.

A week before anyone could confirm that the U.K.A. had taken all captured children to their home continent on the other side of Shankar's western ocean.

Eight days before the Fygo informed the Federation that the U.K.A. were on a mission to eradicate Shankar of telepaths and empaths.

Would Riker have had to invade the Kinji homeland had he and Deanna had children all those years ago? Would he have lost them to the U.K.A., as the children in medbay were lost? Would he and Deanna be dead, leaving them helpless? Or would they all have been safe on the Enterprise?

Thaddeus.

His first ancestor to settle in Alaska had been named Thaddius Riker.

Kestra.

He knew that to be a family name of the Fifth House.

Carmen.

Riker's first thought was Carmen McRae, one of his favorite twentieth-century jazz singers. But then, of course, there'd been his friend, the pioneer, who'd died on Melona IV.

How strange was it to think that someone you knew was dead in two different timelines?

He looked across the table at Deanna and saw the same train of thoughts spinning behind her dark eyes.

"I don't care what universe we're in, Jean-Luc, we can't just leave these kids on the same moon we found them on!" Beverley insisted passionately, ready to use her power as Chief Medical Officer over the captain. "They're sick and battered and barely able to stand! I inadvertently restored Carmen's sight after she hasn't had it for ten years! She's going to need physical therapy. They all need therapy!"

"Don't insult me, Beverley. This obviously complicates matters, but you know full well that I wouldn't just abandon four children in the middle of nowhere."

Worf shifted in his seat, leaning closer to Deanna to offer what kind of comfort he could provide. And maybe dismiss the entire issue. "Are we sure what they're saying is true? After all, we can neither confirm nor deny the theory of a black hole while the computer is down. How can we be sure it is even a positive match?"

"The medical computer is separate from the rest of the ship's operational systems, for incidents such as this." Data explained patiently. "If it says the DNA is a match, then it is undoubtedly correct. The children also present with similar physical traits as Commander Riker and Counselor Troi. The pigment and shape of their eyes, the angles of their zygomatic bones and mandibles, their height in comparison to the Commander and Counselor at a corresponding age-"

"Thank you, Data," Picard cut his second officer off with a dismal expression. He leaned back into his seat, pressing his fist against his mouth. "Number One? Deanna?"

The counselor leaned into the conference table. "They're heartbroken, Captain. I agree with Beverley, they need as much help as they can get, but...I don't know…" She glanced at Riker and then Picard. "What help we can provide might be nothing in comparison to the damage we cause them. They couldn't look at us. The shock we felt at the idea of them is nothing compared to what they feel just seeing us."

By "us", Troi, of course, meant her and Riker.

"We can't just leave them," Will immediately argued, shocked that Deanna would even suggest it.

"I didn't say that, Will."

"We haven't even considered the fact that we found them in an escape pod. I don't care what backwater planet they came from, there's no way they made it any meaningful distance in that thing unless they were marooned or running away from something." Will pointed out, his fierce protectiveness expanding to include the four children he'd rescued from a burning pod.

"Thaddeus said they were free," Beverley communicated.

"And if they'd escaped from a Pietizite ship, we would've found a crater instead of a pod. They had to have been on a larger ship before ending up on that moon and even though they were in an escape pod, there's no evidence of any accident or wreckage."

"That we can see." Worf reminded. "Short-range sensors are being worked on as we speak. We cannot be sure how far they might've flown or drifted before crashing."

"I think Commander Riker may be onto something." Geordi stood up from his seat and made his way to the wall screen where he pulled up a series of pictures of the crashed escape pod once the fire had been put out. "I'm going to have to do some further tests on the plating we brought up, but I'd bet my VISOR that these," He gestured to some scorching on the back end of the pod, "are phaser burns."

Beverley squinted. "How can you tell the difference between phaser burns and what the fire did?"

"The chemical residue. Besides, Commander Riker mentioned earlier that the fire originated in the engine, so the flames would've traveled upward and along the sides of the pod. It covered the roof, but it wouldn't have made it all the way back here."

Worf straightened. "Someone was shooting at them."

Will looked at Deanna and then Picard. "Which means someone might come looking for them."

The door chirped pathetically, signaling a request to come in. Picard considered Riker's theory for a moment before calling out, "Come."

Rather than an officer, though, in stepped the oldest girl of the group they'd just been discussing: Kestra.

"Miss Reyga," Picard stood. "I believe I asked you to remain in medbay until accommodations could be made for you and your siblings."

"Yes, Captain, and I apologize for not respecting your wishes." She walked past the demolished end of the table towards the officers with a confused glance, making a painstaking effort to not look at either Riker or Troi. "It's only… I noticed that your operating systems aren't working."

"How exactly did you notice that?" Worf asked with a tone of accusation. As long as she'd done what she was told and remained in medbay, she should have no reason to think that anything was wrong with the ship.

Kestra blushed and momentarily dropped her eyes guiltily, but did not retreat. "I promise I was just curious. The medical deck is operating on a separate system, but your overall computer is offline, correct? That's why I could cross the ship without authorization?"

"We sustained electrical damage when we passed through the black hole." Data explained before anyone could stop him. Upon hearing Thad's theory, he had submitted to it.

"Why do you ask?" Picard followed up quickly, shooting a cautionary glare at the third in command.

Kestra took a deep breath and delicately knitted her hands together in front of her. Worf glanced at Deanna upon recognizing the familiar action. "Thad means well, Captain, but he doesn't always think things through. And...we're in your debt for saving us," She pushed the words out after they caught in her throat. "If you can take us to the edge of Federation space, we can help you fix the computer and find the black hole so you can return to your chronology."

"There's no need for that. You don't owe us anything," Deanna told her softly.

Kestra didn't look at her but rather shifted uncomfortably at the sound of her voice. Deanna sensed her anxiety rise and so sat back, removing herself from the conversation.

"We've all studied electrical, mechanical, and computer engineering. We also have star charts that can help you narrow down the position of the black hole."

"If it's unstable, no star charts are going to help us find it again." Geordi reminded Kestra. "All they would do is show us where we ended up."

Kestra crossed over to where he stood by the wall screen before turning to Picard. "May I, Captain?"

After a moment of consideration, he nodded.

"I've already uploaded the charts to your database-"

"What?" Geordi demanded. "How?"

Deanna would've expected Kestra to flinch at the volume and tone of the Chief Engineer's voice, but instead, the young woman hardened resiliently. "I told you. I've studied. And your security measures are down, so it wasn't very hard anyway. Now, judging by those stars out there," She gestured to the windows. "The Enterprise is here, and the black hole has consistently appeared in this section over here. You must've drifted a few hundred thousand kilometers before completely losing engine capability."

"These are...very detailed charts, Miss Reyga. Did you do these?" Picard stood to further examine her presentation.

"Our foster father did. Lee...saved us. Opened his home to us and taught us everything we know. He did the charting, took us with him sometimes."

Data raised an eyebrow. "This Lee taught you electrical engineering?"

Kestra nodded. "He had books and programs about nearly everything. Anything we wanted, he let us learn. He even taught Carmen braille so she could read on her own."

Will unconsciously felt grateful for the care and generosity this man had provided his - the children. They weren't his children, not really, but the more Kestra moved and talked… She was blond-haired and blue-eyed - Kestra had his eyes - but she was all Deanna. Will felt his heart swell as he quickly fell for the daughter he might've had.

"The stuff he taught wasn't archaic, either. The schematics Lee used in his instruction were advanced and much more complicated than systems you have here."

Geordi straightened defensively. "The Enterprise is Starfleet's flagship."

Kestra blinked. "And I can help you fix it. At the very least, it would give us something to do until you decide what to do with us. Your cartographers can review the star charts and what Lee knew of the black hole."